The upcoming Europa League match involving Maccabi Tel Aviv faced initial uncertainty regarding the participation of Israeli teams in international competitions due to the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Following a ceasefire agreement last month, Maccabi Tel Aviv, the sole Israeli club to reach the league stage of European competition this season, remained in the Europa League.
West Midlands Police designated the fixture as high-risk. This assessment was based on existing intelligence and prior incidents, including reported violent clashes and hate crime offenses during a 2024 UEFA Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam.
Further concerns arose after the Tel Aviv derby was canceled last month by police due to disorder.
Maccabi Tel Aviv announced its decision to decline any ticket allocation for its supporters at Villa Park. Club representative Angelides stated that this decision was informed by intelligence received from various sources and a perception of incitement in the public discourse, leading to a conclusion that the situation posed an unacceptable risk. He also noted a lack of clear reporting regarding the reasons for supporter restrictions, which he suggested allowed for "agendas" to be advanced. Angelides expressed his belief that the primary reason for the club's decision must be concern for the safety of Maccabi fans.
A coalition of six pro-Palestinian organizations plans a protest outside Villa Park on the day of the match.
Nayeem Malik, chair of West Midlands Palestinian Solidarity, confirmed a national call for participation, with an aim to attract between 20,000 and 50,000 protesters.
Malik stated the organization's position that Maccabi Tel Aviv should not compete internationally and advocates for a boycott of Israel in all sports, regardless of fan presence. He added that previous pro-Palestine demonstrations in the city have been peaceful.
Over 700 police officers will be deployed across Birmingham streets, including mounted units, dog units, the force's drone unit, and road policing officers.
A no-fly zone will be enforced around the stadium.
Some local schools have announced early closures in response to the event.
Angelides stated the club's trust in local authorities to manage the situation and establish necessary boundaries.
Maccabi Tel Aviv has played its Europa League home games this season in Serbia after UEFA determined it was unsafe to host matches in Israel.
Angelides noted that the players are accustomed to playing matches without significant traveling support, having dealt with playing home games abroad and often without fans for two years due to distance and location. He affirmed the players' readiness for the match.